Colombo, 19 March, (Asiantribune.com): The Political Bureau of the People’s Liberation Front (JVP) has condemned the Sri Lanka Government for its undemocratic actions including the arresting of a political dissident and demanded that the tendency to frighten people should be done away forthwith.

In a statement released to the press the Political Bureau of the People’s Liberation Front has pointed out that the Member of Parliament Sripathy Suriyarachchi has been taken into custody on the 17th March, 2007. The reason for his arrest is said to be misusing of public property, the statement added.

The statement pointed out that “Anyone could assume that Mr. Sripathy Suriyarachchi was arrested for aiming serious allegations against certain individuals who occupy higher echelons in the government.”

“It is evident that the government is gradually turning towards undemocratic means. The government is scared of and loathes criticism. The government that takes military action against tiger terrorism should not behave in a manner that would attract criticism and allegations. Instead of answering allegations against it or investigating them the government is taking drastic measures against those individuals and organizations that criticize or aim allegations against it, “the statement revealed.

The statement further revealed, “When media criticizes and aims allegations against the government, those media institutions are so harassed that they have no other alternative but to close down. At the same time state media is misused to deceive the people.”

“Who ever commits abductions, extortions, disappearances; it is the government that is responsible for bringing them to a halt,” JVP Political Bureau further pointed out.

It added, “Specially, when Tamil civilians are abducted, extorted and made to disappear, the Tamil masses that oppose tiger terrorism too are pushed towards tiger organization and the threat of imperialist pro-tiger forces, that are aiming to send a so-called 'peace keeping" force to Sri Lanka, get an opportunity of using human rights violations to interfere in this country. It is the government that is responsible if such a situation is created.”

The full text of the JVP statement is given below:

“Member of Parliament Sripathy Suriyarachchi has been taken into custody on the 17th March, 2007. The reason for his arrest is said to be misusing of public property

“The JVP doesn't approve unlawful doings. Those who misuse and abuse public property should be brought before the law. The government should have begun with those individuals who have defrauded to the tune of Rs. 15,000 billion as mentioned in the COPE report. However, the government protects them though Mr. Suriyarachchi who criticizes the government has been taken into custody. We don't know how the government justifies this duplicity. What ever it is, the JVP is perturbed by the actions of President Mahinda Rajapakse's government during the past few months. We don't believe this new7 tendency could be approved by genuine democrats and humanitarians.

“It is evident that the government is gradually turning towards undemocratic means. The government is scared of and loathes criticism. The government that takes military action against tiger terrorism should not behave in a manner that would attract criticism and allegations. Instead of answering allegations against it or investigating them the government is taking drastic measures against those individuals and organizations that criticize or aim allegations against it.

“Anyone could assume that Mr. Sripathy Suriyarachchi was arrested for aiming serious allegations against certain individuals who occupy higher echelons in the government.

“When media criticizes and aims allegations against the government, those media institutions are so harassed that they have no other alternative but to close down. At the same time state media is misused to deceive the people.

“Who ever commit abductions, extortions, disappearances; it is the government that is responsible for bringing them to a halt.

“Specially, when Tamil civilians are abducted, extorted and made to disappear, the Tamil masses that oppose tiger terrorism too are pushed towards tiger organization and the threat of imperialist pro-tiger forces, that are aiming to send a so-called 'peace keeping" force to Sri Lanka, get an opportunity of using human rights violations to interfere in this country. It is the government that is responsible if such a situation is created.

“The JVP condemns the undemocratic actions of the government and demands that the tendency to frighten people should be done away with.